The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) signed a cooperation agreement on March 30 to standardize training for the shipbuilding and repair sector.
Marina Administrator Sonia Malaluan and TESDA Director General Secretary Kiko Benitez formalized the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in Taguig City to enhance technical competencies within the maritime workforce. The partnership creates a framework for specialized training to increase skilled labor for 132 registered domestic shipyards.
Malaluan stated the collaboration will expand local shipyard capacity, supporting the goal of becoming a global shipbuilding hub. This professionalization aims to service over 20,000 registered domestic trade ships.
The MOA prioritizes qualifications in ship welding, ship fitting, and pipefitting to meet international standards. TESDA will provide labor market intelligence and enhance trainer competencies to ensure instruction addresses current industrial gaps.
A joint Technical Working Group will oversee program development and monitoring. All training will align with the Philippine Credit Transfer System, providing workers with recognized, transferable credits for better career mobility.
Marina will link TESDA with industry stakeholders to identify enterprises for training implementation. This coordination targets direct employment for shipyard workers and 146 licensed boatbuilders while streamlining the certification process.
They emphasized that the joint effort focuses on sustainable livelihoods. The "Sulong SBSR" initiative remains a core component of the strategy to modernize national maritime infrastructure.
